Mail-folding machine



. BARGGREN.

4 SHEETSSHEET I.

Patented Nov. 211, 1922;.

//z we /2 t r R. W. BARGGREN.

MAIL FOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE II, 1920.

Patented Nov. 21, 11922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

R. W. BARGGREN.

MAIL FOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE ll, I920.

L4c36 5 Patented Nov. 21, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

j fya 4 R. W. BARGGREN.

MAIL FOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE I I, 1920.

1 41;36 @5 Patented Nov. 21, 1922.

@w v w Patented Nov. El, 1922.

UNHTED STATES Lttdttt PATENT entice.

RICHARD W. BARGGREN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MAIL-FOLDING MACHINE.

Application filed June 11, 1920. Serial No. 388,223.

' lowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in mail foldingmachines, and has for its object the provision of a machine of this character adapted and arranged to be used in conjunction with an ordinary mimeograph machine or the like, and adapted and arranged to automatically receive letters or the like therefrom, and fold the same for insertion in envelopes.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which,

Fig. 1, is a side View of a machine em= bodying the invention,

Fig. 2, a top plan view of the same,

Fig. 3, a transverse section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4, a detail side View of a folding finger and its operating mechanism employed in the machine, and p Fig. 5, a longitudinal section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

The preferred form of construction, as

illustrated in the drawings, comprises a suitable frame or standard 6 having a supporting table 7 at the top thereof and adapted and arranged to be positioned to receive letters or the like delivered from an ordinary mimeograph machine or the like. The table 7 is provided at its side edges with mwardly turned raised guides 8 adapted to guide the edges of a letter or other paper coming from said mimeograph machine. The table '7 is provided adjacent its receiving end with a transverse slot 9 and feed rollers 10 and 11 are arranged above and below said table to meet throu h the slot 9, said rollers being geared toget er by means of gears 10 and 11 as shown. The upper roller 10 is covered with blotting paper 12 and the lower roller 11 is covered with a rubber pad 12,and whereby the letter or other paper coming from a mimeograph machine will be blotted and fed further onto the table 7. The table 7 is provided with another transverse slot or opening 13 located at a suitable distance from a stop flange 14: at the extreme end of said table and a folding finger or arm 15 is arranged to operate through the slot 13. The finger 15 is pivoted at 16 in suitable brackets on the side of the machine and carries a laterally extending operating arm 17 having a ledge or flange 18 along one side thereof and set in the path of two crank pins 19 on a face plate 20 as indicated. The face plate 20 is carried by a counter shaft 21 for operat ng the same and the finger 15 carries an lnwardly extending arm 22 connected with a tension spring 23 tending to draw the finger 15 downwardly through the slot 13 to fold a letter or the like'along the line of said slot. The arrangement is such that the arm 15 will be drawn downwardly through the slot 13 by the action of spring 23 and will be raised by the action of pins 19 on the ledge 18 of arms 17.

The shaft 21 is connected by beveled gears 24 with another shaft 25 connected by gears 26 with a transverse shaft 27 and shaft 27 is connected by two parallelsprocket chains 28 with another transverse shaft 29. The shaft 29 is connected by a sprocket chain 30 with shaft 31 upon which the roller 11 is mounted, shaft 31 carries a driving pulley 32 for driving the machine. The sprocket chains 28 carry four pairs of bifurcated fingers or arms 33 having divergent outer lips or ends 34: and arranged to travel under the slot 13 to receive the letters folded by the downward passage of the finger 15, the o eration of the parts being so timed that t e finger 15 passes downwardly through said slot 13 and between the correspond ng fingers 33 at each operation, said finger 15 -rising quickly and the fingers 33 having suf ficient flexibility to-permit of this motion. By this arrangement each letter upon delivery from the mimeograph machine will be automatically fed against the stop 14. and then immediately folded centrally and carried downwardly throu h slot 13 between the corresponding pair 0 fingers or arms 33 between which it will be held and carried forward. At the end of their forward travel the fingers 33 pass downwardly between two converging surfaces 35 which cooperate with said fingers to fold the protruding ed est-of the carried letter upwardly substantially at rying my invention into efiect; this is caright angles to the body of the letter. The de ivery shaft 36 is arranged attl1e delivery end of the machine and carries four delivering arms or fingers 38 operating between the pairs of fingers 33 to discharge the folded letter therefrom onto the delivery table 39 which is slotted to permit of vthe free passage of the arms 38 The shaft 36 is connected with shaft 27 by a sprocket chain 37 and is driven thereby. In this way, the

folded letters will be automatically discharged from the machine onto the table 39.

By this arrangement, letters-or the like, coming from an ordinary mimeograph machine will be completely folded once and then partially folded again, thus greatly facilitating their complete folding and insertion in envelopes.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carpable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit'of the invention. 1, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myselfof such variations and modifications as come within the scope it the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what 1'- claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent v1s 1. A machine of the class described comprising a table arranged and adapted to receive printed sheets from a mimeograph inachine or the like, saidtable being provided with a slot; a traveling conveyor arranged to pass under said slot and bifurcated to receive a folded sheet; an oscillating folding member arranged to swing downwardly through said slot to fold and deliver a sheet to said conveyor; means for operating said folding membermeans for turning up the side edges of said folded sheet; and means for discharging a folded sheet from said conveyer,-substantially as described.

2. A machine of the class described comprising a table arranged and adapted to receive printed sheets from a mimeograph machine or thelike, said table being rovided with a slot; feed rollers co-operating with said table, one of said rollers being provided with av periphery of blottingmaterial; a traveling conveyer arran ed to pass under said slot and provided with bifurcated fingers to receive a folded sheet; a folding member arranged to pass downwardly throu h said slot to fold and deliver a sheet intot e bifurcated fingers of said conveyor;

means for operating said folding member;

and means including members traveling between said fingers for simultaneously refolding and discharging a folded sheet from said conveyor, substantially as described; 7

3. A machine of the class described comprising a tablearr-anged and adapted to reteaches ceive printed sheets from a mimeograph machine or the like, said table being provided with a slot; feed rollers co-operating with said table, one of said rollers being provided with a periphery of blotting material; a traveling conveyer'arranged to pass under said slot and having bifurcated members to receivega folded sheet; an oscillating folding member arranged to swing downwardly throu h said slot to fold and deliver a sheet to sai conve er members; means for operatin said f0 ding-mei'nberjand means including rotating arms operating between said-conveyer members for discharging a folded sheet from said conveyor, substan tially as described.

i. A machine of the class described comprising a table arranged and adapted to receive printed sheets from a mimeograph ma: chine or the like, said table being provided with a slot; a traveling 'conveyer arranged prising a table arranged and adapted to re ceive printed sheets from a mimeograph machine orthe like, said table being provided with a slot; a traveling conveyerarranged to pass under said slot and bifurcated to receive a folded sheet; an oscillatory folding member arranged to pass downwardly through said slot to. fold and deliver a sheet to said conveyer; means for operating said folding member; inclined guides arranged at the sides of said conveyer and co-operating therewith to fold the edges of said folded sheet at substantially right angles to the body thereof; and means for discharg. ing a folded sheet from said convey er, substantially as described.

6. A machine of the class described comprising a table arranged and adapted to receive printed sheets from a mimeograph machine or the like, said table being provided with a slot, co-operating feed rollers mounted ,above and below said table, the upper of said rollers being provided with a periphery of blotting material; a traveling conveyer arranged to pass under said slot and bifurcated to receive a folded sheet; a. folding member arranged to pass downwardly through said slot to fold and deliver a sheet to said conveyor; means for operat- -ing said folding member; inclined guides at the sides of said conveyor and co-operating therewith to fold the edges of said folded lib Mill

sheet at substantially right angles to the body thereof; and means for discharging a folded sheet from said conveyer, substantially as described.

7. A machine of the class described comprising ;a table arranged and adapted to receive printed sheets from a mimeograph machine or the like, said table being provided with a slot, feed rollers co-operating through a slotted opening in said table for moving said sheets, the upper of said rollers being provided with a periphery. of blotting material; a traveling conveyor arranged to pass under said slot and bifurcated to receive a folded sheet; an oscillatory folding member arranged to swing downwardly through said slot to fold and deliver a sheet to said conveyer; means. for operating said folding member; inclined guides arrangeduat the sides of said conveyer and co-operating' therewith to fold the edgesof said folded sheet at substantially right angles to the body thereof; and means for discharginga folded sheet from said conveyor, substantially as described.

8. A machine of the class described comprising a table arranged and adapted to receive. printed sheets from a m1meograph ma-- chine or the like, said table being provided at its sides with guides and with a transverse slot, feed rollers cooperating with said table, the upper- 0f said rollers being provided with a periphery of blotting material; an endless chain conveyer provided with pairs of bifurcated fingers arranged to pass under said slot to receive a foldedsheet; a foldin member arranged to pass downwardly t rough said slot to fold and deliver a sheet to said fingers; means for operating said folding member; inclined guides arranged at the sides of said conveyer and cooperating therewith to fold the edges of said folded sheet at substantially right angles to the body thereof; and means for discharging a folded sheet from said conveyor, substantially as described. 9. A machine of the class described comprising a table arranged and adapted to receive printed sheets from a mimeograph machine or the like, said table being'provided at its sides with guides and with a transverse slot, feed rollers co-operating with said table, the upper of said rollers being provided with a periphery of blotting material; an endless chain conveyer provided with pairs of bifurcated fingers arranged to pass under said slot to receivea folded sheet; a folding member arranged to pass downwardly through said slot to'fold and deliver a sheet to said fingers; means for operating said folding member; a shaft at the discharge end of said machine a'plurality of fingers carried by said shaft and arranged to pass between the fingers on said conveyer to discharge a folded sheet therefrom; and

audelivery table adapted to receive the sheets from said revolving fingers, substantially as described. v

' 10. A machine of the class described comprising a table arranged and adaptedto receive printed sheets from a mimeograph machine or the like, said table being provided at its sides with guides and with a transverse slot, feed rollers co-operating with said table, the upper of said rollers being provided with a periphery of blotting material; an endless chain conveyer provided with pairs of bifurcated fingers arranged to'passunder' said slot to receive a folded sheet;' a folding member arranged to pass downwardly through said-slot to fold. and deliver a sheet to said fingers; means for operating said folding member; inclined- RICHARD w. nancennnl Witnesses:

Rosa RosnN, Rosa K. True. 

